Type-holding device.



PATENTED OCT. 3, 1905.

J. W. MOGIBNEY- TYPE HOLDING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 7, 1904.

UNITED STATES PATENT @FETCE.

TYPE-HOLDING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 3, 1805.

Application filed June 7,1904. Serial No. 211,521.

2'0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN WILTON McGIB- NEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Stafford, in the county of H arford and State of Maryland, have invented a new and useful Type-Holding Device, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to type-holding devices such as are adapted to hold a plurality of type to be used for any special purpose as, for example, in the formation of dates to be stamped on letters in post-oflices.

The object of the invention is to hold the type in such manner that they may be extracted easily and quickly from the holder without the liability of securing the wrong type and without the necessity of employing plungers and other similar mechanism, the insertion of one type being utilized to cause the ejection of another.

1V ith this object in view the invention resides in a typeway wherein the type are given a step-by-step movement by the successive introduction of type and wherein each time one type is introduced the next consecutive type is exposed.

The invention also resides in the novel combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed as a practical embodiment of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a plan view of a type-holder embodying the features of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view thereof. Fig.3 is a cross-sectional view.

Like characters of reference designate corresponding parts in each and every figure of the drawings.

The preferred embodiment of the invention consists of a casing 1, which is open at one end. Within the casing 1 is disposed a plurality of U-shaped type ways or guides 2, 3, and at, which are disposed one around another and each of which is adapted to permit astepby-step advance movement of type contained therein. Each way or guide 2, 3, and 4 is formed with an open end or inlet 5, which is approximately in line with the adjacent portion of the guide or of such form as to permit the successive introduction of type (0111 a line with the direction of movement of the type in the guide or way. Each guide or way is also formed with an open end or outlet 6 approximately in line with the adjacent portion of the guide or of such form as to permit the successive exposure of a type oneach advance of the type in the guide. The inlets and outlets of the guides or. ways 2, 3, and 4 are disposed at the open end of easing 1.

The guide 4 preferably is adapted to contain eleven type, each bearing the name of a month. The guide 3 is adapted to contain twenty-three type, each bearing the numerals of an hour or half-hour, as 1, 1.30, 2, 2. 30, and so on, up to 12, 12.30. The guide 2 is adapted to contain thirty type, each bearing the numeral of a day in the month. It Will be noticed that one type is missing from each guide. The three missing type of course are those required by the postmaster. At the end of every half-hour when the time is changed, the postmaster removes the half-hour type from his stamping device and introduces it into the inlet 5 of the guide 3. This insertion of one type causes the exposure of the next consecutive type at the outlet 6 at the opposite end of the guide, it being understood that the type are arranged consecutively in each guide. hen it is time to change the day and month, the operation described is repeated in respect of the other guides.

The device of this invention operates without the employment of plungers or springs. If desired, the base of the casing 1 may be extended from the closed end thereof to form a flange or lip 7, which through suitable perforations therein constitutes means for securing the casing in position upon a table or other support. The base of the casing at the open end thereof may be extended to form a ledge 7, which constitutes means for receiving the type as they are exposed.

The parallel walls which form the U-shaped guides 2, 3, and 4 may be set into suitable U- shaped grooves in the base of the casing, and cross-pieces 8 and 9 may extend from side to side of the casing to hold the upper ends of said walls in proper relation with one another. If desired, the top 10 of the casing may be removable, and it may be made of wood, glass, or any other suitable material.

When it is desired to have the holder contain year-type, a fourth substantially U- shaped guide 11 is provided within the guide 4. and constructed as described for the other guides and filled with nine type, whereby the device is adapted for a period of ten years, the tenth type of course being in use and not in the holder.

As the inlet and exit ends of the guides are while the free end of the tongue at the exit extends outwardly, so as to permit of the type being forced out of the guide, but having sufficient strength to grip the type and prevent accidental outward displacement thereof during ordinary handling of the type-holder. It is preferred to have the walls of the guides formed of metal, and when so formed the spring-tongues may be conveniently cut or cleft therefrom; but it is of course apparent that separate tongues may be attached to the walls of the guides in any suitable or preferred manner.

Filling-pieces 14 are placed between the ends of the several guides 4 to constitute means for closing the entire open end of the casing except the inlets and outlets of the guides.

Changes in the precise embodiment of in-' vention illustrated and described may be made within the scope of the following claims with-' out departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is-- 1. A type-holder comprisinga substantially horizontal base having a pair of substantially U-shaped concentric grooves in the top of the base, and upstanding wall members fitted in the grooves and constituting acontinuous U- shaped typeway which is open at opposite ends and terminates short of the front edge of the base, that portion of the base which is in front of the open ends of the typeway constituting a type-support to receive the type displaced from the discharge end of the way and to support type preparatory to introducing the same into the inlet end of the way.

2. Atype-holdercomprisingasubstantially horizontal base and a pair of spaced substantially U-shaped concentrically-disposed walls rising from the top of the base and constituting a continuous U-shaped typeway which is open at opposite ends, said open ends lying in rear of the front edge of the base and that portion of the base in front of the open ends of the typeway constituting a support to receive the type displaced from the discharge end of the way and to support type preparatory to introducing the same into the inlet end of the way.

3. A type-holder comprising a casing having grooves in its base, curved guides or ways set into the grooves and cross-pieces holding the upper ends of the guides in proper relation with each other.

4. A type-holder comprising a base having a concentric series of substantially U-shaped typeways having their opposite ends opening horizontally and located in the same straight line transversely of the base adjacent and in rear of the front edge thereof, that portion of the base which is projected in front of the typeways constituting a type-support to receive the type displaced from the discharge ends of the ways and to support type preparatory to introducing the same into the inlet ends of the ways, a spring-tongue located within the inlet end of each typeway and inclined outwardly thereof, a spring-tongue located within the outlet end of each typeway and inclined transversely inward, a cover closing the tops of the typeways, and fillers in the spaces between the ends of adjacent typeways, the base, and the cover.

In testimony that 1 claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN XVILTON MGGIBNEY.

Witnesses:

J. MILTON WARNER, H. E. SELFE. 

